Silicon Valley Bank Invests in Venture Capital and Private Equity Services Group; Adds Senior Bankers

SANTA CLARA, Calif. – May 17, 2011 – Silicon Valley Bank (SVB), financial partner to innovative technology and life science companies and the venture capital firms that support them, appointed technology and life science banker Mercy Forde and hired VC fund CFO Nina Labatt for its Venture Capital and Private Equity Services team, which is dedicated to providing the financial services required by venture capital and private equity firms. Having worked closely with venture capitalists for nearly 30 years, SVB has become the preferred banker to more than half of the venture capital firms in the U.S.

"We have an outstanding team that understands the unique financing needs of our venture capital and private equity partners," said Greg Becker, President and CEO of Silicon Valley Bank. "Mercy and Nina bring years of highly relevant experience to an outstanding team of professionals that deliver non-traditional financial products with world class client service. Our VC and private equity clients trust us to help finance their firm, so we continue to invest in the practice and aim to impress them with a globally-connected, tech-savvy team."

Mercy Forde joins SVB's Venture Capital and Private Equity Services team after working with technology and life science companies of all sizes for the past 17 years at Silicon Valley Bank. For the past decade she has specialized in working with life science companies. Forde worked in the telecom and government defense industries prior to joining SVB. She earned a bachelor's degree in finance from San Diego State University and an MBA from Golden Gate University.

Nina Labatt has been a CFO for venture capital and private equity firms for the better part of 11 years, and joins SVB most recently from Health Evolution Partners and Labrador Ventures. Labatt began her financial services career specializing in investment banking at Goldman, Sachs & Co. She earned a bachelor's degree in economics and a master's degree in international policy studies from Stanford University and an MBA from Harvard Business School. Labatt is the immediate past Chairman of the Board of VCBC, the industry group for venture capital finance professionals.

About Silicon Valley Bank Silicon Valley Bank provides commercial banking services to emerging growth and mature companies in the technology, life science, private equity and premium wine industries. Through its focus on specialized markets and extensive knowledge of the people and business issues driving them, Silicon Valley Bank provides a level of service and partnership that measurably impacts its clients' success. Founded in 1983 and headquartered in Santa Clara, Calif., the company serves clients around the world through 26 U.S. offices and seven international operations. Silicon Valley Bank is a member of global financial services firm SVB Financial Group (Nasdaq: SIVB). More information on the company can be found at www.svb.com. 

Banking services are provided by Silicon Valley Bank, a member of the FDIC and the Federal Reserve System. SVB Financial Group is also a member of the Federal Reserve System.